Barbara Fieweger Van Vooren, loving wife, mom, grandmother and sister, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 4097 18th St., Bettendorf. The family invites you to join them Monday, May 17, 2010 at 4 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main St., Davenport for a prayer service to begin the visitation. The family will continue to greet friends until 7 p.m.
Barbara was born to Thomas E. and Delilah (Dobler) Fieweger on December 19, 1933 in Davenport, Iowa. As a life-long resident of the Quad Cities, Barb graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis., together with her registered nurse (RN) accreditation. At Marquette Barb was named one of the "prettiest co-eds in the U.S." by “Compact Young People’s Digest,” then a national publication, and was selected as university junior prom queen and university homecoming queen. She was her sorority’s president and was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, “The Honor Society of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.” Barb was selected to appear in Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. At Marquette, she met Bob Van Vooren, a fellow Quad Citian. Barb and Bob married on Dec. 27, 1955.
Barb’s strength as a caregiver was evident during her nursing career, which began at St. Luke’s Hospital in Davenport and continued at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri and at Passavant Hospital in Chicago while Bob served in the Army and attended law school.
Barbara’s life revolved around her husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends. When her seven children were young, she was a dedicated chauffeur, cheerleader at numerous sporting events, teacher of life lessons, and problem solver for all. Barb gave her children the generous gift of her time and offered an abundance of diverse experiences to help them discover their passions. She was the center of her family’s life and relished frequent family reunions at home in Iowa and in Florida. She treasured her 14 grandchildren and delighted in watching them thrive.
Barbara was a generous and entertaining hostess to family and friends, whom she cherished. She loved to travel, golf, knit, play bridge and mahjong, read, shop, solve crossword puzzles, garden and spend time with her family and friends.
Barbara was co-owner and managing partner of Isabel Bloom Sculpture Studio, and grew it into a national company. She and her partners purchased the company in 1981 when it employed three persons. The company was sold in 1994 when it employed in excess of 125 full-time employees, and sold and distributed sculptures throughout the world.
Her dedication to family, community, philanthropy and faith was lived through her service to many local charities, including the Handicapped Development Center, Friends of Vander Veer, the Kahl Home for the Aged, Catholic Service Board, Cinderella Cellar, Tri-City Garden Club, Assumption High School, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Birthright, Quad City Symphony, Junior Achievement, Junior League and Project Renewal of Davenport.
Barb is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Bob; her seven devoted children, R. Scott Van Vooren (Ellen), Martha Sackley (Chuck), Stephanie Herold (Doug), Sara Borger (Alan), Guff Van Vooren (Vicki), Alison Lasell (John), and Christine Van Vooren; her thirteen adoring grandchildren, Sarah and Robert Van Vooren, Alison, Danny, and Nick Halverson, Amy, Sam, and Joseph Herold, Kelly, Jenny and Alison Sackley, and Peter and Charlie Lasell; and her brothers, Charles (Joan) Fieweger, Peter (Shirley) Fieweger, and sister, Margaret McEnery.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Delilah Fieweger, her brother, Thomas Fieweger and sister, Jo Marie Spelletich, and her grandson, Thomas Scott Van Vooren.
In lieu of flowers, Barb asked that you consider making a donation to one of the following: Assumption High School, the Handicapped Development Center, Friends of Vander Veer Park or Kahl Home for the Aged.
Barb requested that special acknowledgment be extended to Dr. Costas L. Constantinou and Dr. Edwin V. Motto, and their respective staffs, and the nursing and hospice staffs at Genesis Hospital, for their superior care and sensitive treatment.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Barb’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
